by Kelly Goode
‘I’m sure it wasn’t a human.’
‘That doesn’t answer my question. Sage’s body was ripped to pieces, whilst her father’s was reduced to a pile of bones. Almost as if someone stripped them with chemicals. Animals don’t have access to chemicals…or have opposable thumbs.’
‘Monkeys do.’
‘Have access to chemicals?’
‘Have opposable thumbs.’
‘So I should start hunting for a killer ape or a mutant from a horror movie.’
‘Stranger things have happened.’
Raider sighed. ‘Not to me. I’ve worked violent crimes for years and in all those cases the victims were killed by someone they know.’
‘This wasn’t a domestic murder,’ she replied, wishing she could tell him that the desquamaters were probably already wearing Sage’s father’s skin like a costume. ‘You should look for previous victims with a similar cause of death.’
‘If there were any other open cases involving little girls mutilated by animals, I think I’d already know about it.’
Carson shook her head even though Raider couldn’t see her.
‘Not if it was covered up,’ she said.
‘By whom?’
‘Maybe you should be asking your superiors about that,’ she said, slowing her pace as she reached the entrance to HQ. ‘Sorry to cut this short, but I have work to do. Thanks again for calling.’
‘More dangerous strays to capture?’
‘Yeah, something like that. If you find anything else about Sage and her father will you let me know?’
‘I might,’ he replied. ‘If you tell me why the animal control department are so interested in them?’
‘Animal control isn’t interested as such, but I am.’
‘Why?’
‘That’s classified.’
Raider grunted. ‘I know there’s more to you than a pretty smile and strange haircut, Carson Towers. I’m going to solve this case and solve you. I’ll be in touch.’
He ended the call and she put away her phone. Tom was waiting inside the foyer for her. He was holding a brown paper bag and the grease from the hamburger was already seeping through. It made her stomach undulate. She looked at the reception desk, half-expecting Ted still to be positioned on his chair, but his body was gone.
‘Any word from Finch?’ she asked.
‘Not yet,’ he replied, handing her the bag. ‘I added extra fries for you, make sure you eat them.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘As my office is still a crime scene, I’ll eat in the boardroom. Do you want to join me?’
‘I promised Adam I’d pop and see him. I’ll eat there.’
‘Remind him about reviewing those false DNA results please.’
Carson nodded and headed down to the basement. The ISCU laboratory was somewhere she rarely visited, and as she walked down the sterile white corridor, she realised it was because it reminded her of being in hospital.
‘Adam,’ she called, as she pushed against the first set of double doors. ‘Are you here?’
It was remarkably quiet and she felt an irrational fear work its way up her spine at the scent of antiseptic, now mixed with hamburger.
‘Hey, Adam. Answer me. Are you here?’ she repeated, as she stopped beside a window and peered inside. ‘It’s Carson.’
The only response was a loud crash followed by some colourful cursing. She pushed open the next set of doors tentatively and poked her head inside in the laboratory.
‘Watch your step,’ Adam said, as he finally acknowledged her arrival. Carson looked down to where broken glass littered the floor and managed to pick out a path that wouldn’t result in injury.
‘What happened?’ she asked, as she put the bag down on his desk.
‘The bastards trashed the place. They smashed the pH meters, laboratory scales, refractometers, microscopes, even the damn protective glassware. Those things are easily replaceable but just look at the computers and DNA sequencer.’
Several pieces of expensive looking hardware sat on a bank of desk, but their drives were out of their protective shells. Wires and components spewed onto the floor, as if someone had chewed them up and spat them out.
‘Lydia is going to freak when she sees this,’ Adam said, running his hands through his hair with frustration. ‘She’s wanted to get rid of me from day one and this will give her the excuse she needs. She’ll say I didn’t engage the locks properly.’
Carson touched Adam’s arm as way of reassurance.
‘It was my key code that allowed entry, if anyone is getting the blame it’s me. You did nothing wrong. The dead alien in the chief’s office is proof of that. He must’ve searched the lab first then moved upstairs. Any idea what he was looking for? Is anything missing?’
He shook his head. ‘Not that I can see, but it means the samples we collected from Malone’s house will have to wait until we get the equipment fixed or replaced.
Carson nodded to the take-away bag that Adam was eyeing longingly.
‘I went one better than coffee and a sandwich, I brought you hamburger and fries in exchange for those test results you promised,’ she lied. ‘I’ll help clean up while you eat.’
44
‘I didn’t expect to see you so soon. Please come inside. Are you hungry? Thirsty?’
Blake shook Viktor’s outstretched hand.
‘You might reconsider the hospitality once I tell you the reason for my visit.’
‘Sounds ominous, let’s talk in private.’
Viktor led Blake through his stately home. According to Earth’s history a wealthy, aristocratic family had once resided there, so it seemed befitting that a former prince now owned it. Even if that prince was from another planet. Blake admired the wooden furniture, which looked antique and the huge windows, which were adorned with plush, red curtains. It wasn’t his style, as he had more simple tastes, but there was no denying its opulence.
‘What did you want to tell me?’ Viktor asked, as he opened the door to a study and gestured Blake inside.
Blake was about to reply, but his attention was drawn to several pieces of artwork on the wall. Viktor noticed his interest and a small smile played across his lips.
‘You like the paintings?’
Blake nodded. ‘Very much.’
‘What do you like about them?’
‘I’m not sure I can put it into words. I’m no art critic.’
‘Try.’
Blake focused on the largest of the paintings. Although the colours and brush strokes made up indistinguishable shapes, when he stared harder at them they seemed to blend to a familiar scene.
‘They remind me of home – of Jakttera.’
Viktor’s smile widened. ‘I’m glad.’
‘Who is the artist?’
‘I am.’
Blake felt his eyebrows rise in surprise. ‘You’re good.’
‘Thank you. I had to do something with my time. My father kept me locked in this house for many years until he deemed Earth a safe enough planet for our colony to put down roots. In those early days, I taught myself to paint. I wanted to remember our planet. The moons and colourful skies especially.’
‘Well if you ever feel like selling one, let me know.’
‘I’ll bear that in mind. Now, please sit down so we can talk.’
Blake took a chair beside the ornate fireplace and Viktor sat opposite him. He stared the man straight in the eye and decided to keep it simple and tell the truth.
‘I killed an alien tonight.’
Viktor’s posture relaxed. ‘Hardly newsworthy. You’re acting as an ISCU agent, I would expect nothing less.’
Blake shook his head. ‘You don’t understand - I killed a jaktten.’
The muscle in Viktor’s jaw ticked, as he processed that statement. Blake readied himself for an attack, which didn’t take long to emerge. The sound of the chair hitting the floor preceded Viktor grabbing him by the throat and slamming his head against the wall, narrowl
y missing one of the paintings.
‘That was not part of the deal,’ Viktor growled, his blue eyes glowing inside his face.
‘I know,’ Blake replied as best he could with a restricted windpipe.
‘The council will insist on the harshest form of punishment.’
‘I know. That's why I came here in person to explain.’
Viktor released his hold on Blake’s neck and took a step backwards.
‘So explain.’
Blake wanted to rub his injured throat, but doing so would be a sign of weakness and he needed to maintain his control. He straightened his shoulders and stood to his full height.
‘The jaktten attacked Carson.’
‘You killed one of our own because of a woman? That’s another reason to stay away from them if they make you betray your colony.’
‘I fear the betrayal may be closer to home. Are any of the colony missing?’
‘Why do you ask?’
‘The jaktten I killed had been held captive for a long time. It was close to death when I found it. I tried to save it but it bit Carson.’
Viktor shook his head. ‘Jakttens do not bite humans. They know the consequences.’
‘I’m afraid you’re wrong about that.’
‘It’s not possible.’
‘I saw the evidence with my own eyes. A mutated human. A young boy. Bitten and in the early stages of the transformation.’
‘Where is this boy?’ Viktor asked, as he started pacing the room. ‘Bring him to me and I’ll question him.’
‘He’s dead too.’
Viktor scowled and Blake held his hands up in regret.
‘It’s been a really shitty day. I took no pleasure in either kill, but I had no choice. I believe you have a traitor here. Someone who is colluding with the desquamaters.’
‘No one would betray me like that.’
‘I saw the boy. I saw the desquamater. They were together.’
Viktor rubbed his brow. ‘I need to consult the council.’
‘Yes, you do, and as much as it pains me to say this, you also need to reach out to Jonah. He is the king of information and if any of your people are missing, he’ll know about it. He’ll have heard the whispers already.’
‘Why don’t you ask him directly?’
Blake shook his head. ‘I already owe the bastard and have no intention of acquiring another debt. You pay Jonah and he’ll tell you what he knows.’
‘I will not pay for information. I am the Alpha. He should give it freely.’
‘You need to pull your head out of your arse, Viktor,’ Blake interrupted. ‘I told you already that Prince of Jakttera means shit on this planet. Jonah is a mercenary. He works for money not loyalty.’
Viktor gritted his teeth but did not argue.
‘The council will need to speak with you too,’ he said instead. ‘You know that right?’
‘Yes.’
‘They’ll want to corroborate your story.’
Blake held his hand out and Viktor reluctantly shook it.
‘They know where to find me. I’ll be waiting.’
45
Carson sat in her car with the engine switched off. The hammering of the rain against the metal roof, matched the wild beating of her heart. After leaving HQ last night, she’d gone home and read the test results Adam provided. She was no scientist but the DNA was definitely showing a combination of human and alien cells, which was impossible.
After that, she’d slept fretfully for a few hours but as the sun slowly rose, so did she. She needed to find Blake. The fact he hadn’t reported in after being summoned meant one of two things – he was hiding or he was dead. Carson’s hands shook, as she thought about him being hurt by an alien. She gripped the steering wheel and sucked in a few deep breaths. Blake was logical; he wouldn’t allow himself to get into a situation he couldn’t get out of, unlike her.
The incessant rain caused the temperature to drop by a few degrees and she shivered inside her thin cotton shirt, wishing she’d brought a jacket. She thought about waiting for the rain to stop before getting out of the car, but knew that was just a delaying tactic. Part of her wanted to drive away and pretend she hadn’t found that key to Blake’s home, as that way she couldn’t confront him, but that would be the coward’s choice, and she was not a coward. She needed to know for sure what he was involved with and why alien DNA was found on his T-shirt, but more importantly, she needed to look him in the eye while she questioned him about it.
Carson stared out of the windscreen at Blake’s property. He’d not lied about the state of the place. There was plenty of work still to be done, but the original farmhouse building was impressive. It was a little run down, but still something of beauty. The original orange brickwork was held together with brown beams and the roof was missing a few tiles. The windows were small but there were so many of them, it didn’t seem to matter. There had once been some kind of porch at the entrance, but the wooden steps were rotten and some planks had fallen through. From where she sat, she could see two open garages and a stable, but there could still be more buildings around the back.
Carson let go of the steering wheel and took the key from the glove box where she’d stowed it again after finding it. Blake had said to only use it in an emergency and she felt today qualified as one. A rumble in the sky caused her to flinch, but she took one more deep breath and opened the door. The rain had no intention of letting up, so it was now or never to leave the safety of the car.
Carson ran towards the porch. A storm was brewing and the rain pelted her with vicious accuracy. Within seconds, she was soaked and her wet clothes clung uncomfortably to her skin. She climbed up onto the porch using an upturned flowerpot. Her short hair was slicked against her forehead, obstructing her vision, so she pushed it away, as she carefully traversed the broken boards. Once at the front door, she pushed the key into the lock and turned. She met resistance, so tried again. This time she rattled the handle, but the door did not yield. The key obviously fit, but Blake must have locked it from the inside or put on a safety catch, as it would not budge.
Her thoughts once again switched to concern, and she wished she’d brought one of the grenade guns. That would have turned the door to splinters, but most likely the surrounding wall too. Carson moved nimbly from window to window, peering inside and willing Blake to be watching TV or eating dinner. Her disappointment increased as each room she checked was empty apart from objects covered in white dust sheets, which made for a creepy, uninhabited scene. She could almost imagine the sheets coming to life like ghosts to grab her.
She decided to check around the back of the farmhouse and climbed down from the relative safety of the porch onto a small stone wall. The rooms at the back were just as empty as the front, although she did manage to locate the kitchen where a discarded plate sat on the sideboard with a loaf of bread and some half eaten cheese, which indicated someone had been there recently.
Carson shivered. She needed to get out of the rain, so quickly finished her search by checking the stables and garages. If Blake owned any animals they had better sense than she did and had already found shelter. She cursed the wet British weather, as she trudged through the mud that tried to claim her shoes. She wasn’t surprised to find both buildings empty, but as she left the back entrance of the stables, she halted as she spotted a familiar figure out in the field.
Blake.
Carson’s relief washed over her like the relentless rain. She started jogging towards him, but it was only when she drew closer that she realised she’d made an error in judgement. Blake was facing away from her and he was naked. She slowed to a stop, realising she’d come too far from the protection of the farmhouse to turn back without him noticing. She didn’t want to be caught spying, but equally she couldn’t stop staring. The muscles in Blake’s broad back contracted and extended as he moved fluidly from one pose to another in an intricate martial art sequence. His long hair was tied at the nape of his neck and the rain flowed
over his skin like little rivers.
Suddenly, Blake spun around and Carson held her breath. She expected his green eyes to meet hers accusingly, but they were closed and she exhaled deeply. He seemed utterly at peace with the mud beneath his bare feet; as if this was how he’d been truly born to live.
Wild, uninhibited, and free.
As Blake twisted into a supple pose that she had no hope of replicating, her hormones raged. There was something darkly erotic about the way he moved and her body throbbed with need. As this was a situation that neither one would want to explain to other, Carson turned and headed in the direction of her car before she was caught trespassing.
The heavens rumbled another thunderous warning, as spears of lightening forked across the sky. Carson yelped in surprise, but then screamed louder when she was grabbed from behind.
46
‘What the fuck are you doing on my land? Who sent you? Who sent you?’
Even though Carson knew it was Blake shouting at her, it didn’t sound like his voice. It was more like a growl, and she screamed when he yanked her arm behind her back. This seemed to penetrate whatever rage he was in, as he released his hold on her. She fell to her knees and her palms slapped against the wet mud.
‘Wait. Hold on a second…Carson? Is that you?’
His tone returned to normal and he sounded more confused than angry.
‘I’m sorry, so sorry. I thought…’
He didn’t seem able to finish that sentence, so gently lifted her to her feet again. Blood rushed to her dead arm, making it tingle and silent tears mixed with the rain on her face.
‘Are you ok? Did I hurt you?’
Carson bit down on her lip to stop from sobbing. The cut on her shoulder burned as if the scab had burst, but she didn’t want him to know that. She swiped the tears from her face and straightened her spine.
‘Carson, please say something. I should’ve known it was you from your scent, but I never expected to see you here.’
Blake pulled her into a tight embrace and she rested her head against his hard chest. His tawny hair tickled against her nose, but she was reluctant to pull away as he was protecting her from the rain. Blake slipped one arm around her waist, while the other rubbed her injured arm. Carson’s hands wandered of their own accord and explored the smooth skin across his shoulder blades and then down the ridges of his spine. He shuddered when her hands reached his arse, and she quickly came to her senses and retreated.
